Go to Wolters Kluwer VitalLaw.comGo to Wolters Kluwer VitalLaw.com
VitalLaw®
  • Find answers to your questions
  • Log in to access your subscriptions
In depth. On point.
In depth. On point.
  • Home
  • Legal Directory
  • Home
  • Legal Directory
In depth. On point.
  • Articles
    • Articles
  • Law Firms
    • Law Firms
  • Organizations
    • Organizations
    • PENSION AND BENEFIT PLANS—7th Cir.: Retirees granted class action certification on ERISA claim, summary judgment on employer liability reversed
    • AGENCY NEWS—Chemical Safety Board issues report on fatal U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works explosion
    • ARBITRATION—S.D.N.Y.: EFAA does not bar arbitration of Salesforce employee’s claims
    • DISCRIMINATION—RACE—D.N.M.: Former Walgreens manager, fired for purportedly unauthorized store closures, cannot advance claim
    • DOJ NEWS—Two Georgia men and one Chinese citizen indicted for alleged forced labor violations against Chinese workers
    • ECONOMIC NEWS—College Athletes file class action suit over new NCAA eligibility rule
    • EMPLOYEE LEAVE—E.D. Pa.: PNC employee’s mass email deletion defeats FMLA retaliation claim
    • EVIDENCE, DISCOVERY—S.D. Ohio: Aerospace contractor can depose VA psychiatrist over emotional distress in retaliation suit
    • EXPERT INSIGHTS—Colorado releases proposed rulebook for AI-assisted hiring and employment decisions: 8 things employers need to know
    • EXPERT INSIGHTS—Connecticut joins the AI hiring law wave—with a more measured approach
    • IMMIGRATION NEWS—Fed guidance details risk management obligations on non-work authorized borrowers
    • REPORTS—AFL-CIO reports that top CEOs earned 312 times average pay in 2025
    • REPORTS—Betterment survey finds blurred lines between investment and sports betting
    • REPORTS—Retirement benefits remain deeply unequal despite growth in 401(k) offerings
    • TORT CLAIMS—N.D. Ill.: Gum manufacturer’s trade secret claims over sales data largely survive dismissal challenge
    • WHISTLEBLOWERS—7th Cir.: Seventh Circuit affirms rulings against former Garrett Popcorn executive in food-safety retaliation case
  • Articles
    • Articles
  • Law Firms
    • Law Firms
  • Organizations
    • Organizations

    Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up, REPORTS—AFL-CIO reports that top CEOs earned 312 times average pay in 2025, (Aug 17, 2026)

    Organizations Mentioned:AFL-CIO | Tesla | Wind Colebrook, LLC

    By WK Editorial Staff

    “The median U.S. worker would need 43,154 years to earn what Trump made in his first year back in office.”

    The AFL-CIO announced last week that a new executive compensation report shows that S&P 500 chief executives earned an average of ...

    By WK Editorial Staff

    “The median U.S. worker would need 43,154 years to earn what Trump made in his first year back in office.”

    The AFL-CIO announced last week that a new executive compensation report shows that S&P 500 chief executives earned an average of $22.8 million in 2025, or 312 times the pay of the median U.S. worker, marking a sharp increase from the 285-to-one ratio reported for 2024.

    21 percent CEO pay increase. According to the labor federation's 2026 Executive Paywatch report, average CEO compensation rose 21 percent year-over-year, reaching the highest level recorded during the international union's three decades of tracking executive pay. The report analyzes compensation data reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission and points out that executive pay growth has far outpaced wage gains for average workers.

    Declining share for workers. The AFL-CIO highlighted several findings, including that workers' share of national income fell to its lowest level since World War II and that many employees at major employers, including Amazon, Dollar Tree, FedEx, McDonald's and Walmart, rely on public assistance programs. The report also cited financial pressures facing U.S. households, including difficulty paying bills, covering medical expenses, and managing emergency costs.

    Musk and Trump. The study separately noted that including Tesla CEO Elon Musk's reported $158.3 billion compensation package would raise average S&P 500 CEO pay to $340.1 million. The report also examined President Trump's reported 2025 income and compared it with earnings of the median U.S. worker. The latter, according to the report, would need 43,154 years to earn what Trump made in his first year back in office.

    AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond said the findings demonstrate a growing imbalance between executive compensation and workers' economic conditions, arguing that stronger union representation is needed to ensure workers receive a greater share of corporate profits.

    News: Reports Labor UnionsMembers LaborNews EconomicNews IndustryNewsTrends WhiteHouseNews

    © 2026 CCH Incorporated and its affiliates and licensors. All rights reserved.

    • Manage Cookie Preferences
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Use